DOCSLIB.ORG

Monitoring Lake Ice Seasons in Southwest Alaska with Modis Images

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
Monitoring Lake Ice Seasons in Southwest Alaska with Modis Images MONITORING LAKE ICE SEASONS IN SOUTHWEST ALASKA WITH MODIS IMAGES Page Spencer, Chief of Natural Resources Lake Clark National Park and Preserve 240 W 5th Ave Anchorage, Alaska 99501 [email protected] Amy E. Miller, Ecologist National Park Service, Southwest Alaska Network 240 W 5th Ave Anchorage, Alaska 99501 [email protected] Bradley Reed. Associate Program Coordinator U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) Reston, VA 20191 [email protected] Michael Budde, Geographer USGS Center for Earth Resources Observation and Science (EROS) Sioux Falls, SD 57198 [email protected] ABSTRACT Impacts of global climate change are expected to result in greater variation in the seasonality of snowpack, lake ice, and vegetation dynamics in southwest Alaska. All have wide-reaching physical and biological ecosystem effects in the region. We used Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) Rapidfire browse images, snow cover extent, and vegetation index products for interpreting interannual variation in the duration and extent of snowpack, lake ice, and vegetation dynamics for southwest Alaska. The approach integrates multiple seasonal metrics across large ecological regions. The general annual pattern of the lake ice season in southwest Alaska begins as water cools when fall storms sweep in from the North Pacific. Ice forms on high altitude or small lakes by Oct/Nov, with larger lakes usually freezing over by Dec/Jan. Warm mid-winter storms often hit the study area, bringing wind, rain and melting temperatures that result in several inches of water on the ice or partial break-up of the ice pack. The return of cold, still Arctic high pressure refreezes the lakes until spring break-up in April and May. Throughout the observation period (2001–2007), snow cover duration was stable within ecoregions, with variable start and end dates. The start of the lake ice season lagged the snow season by 2 to 3 months. Within a given lake, freeze-up dates varied in timing and duration, while break-up dates were more consistent. Vegetation phenology varied less than snow and ice metrics, with start-of-season dates comparatively consistent across years. Higher than average temperatures during the El Niño winter of 2002-2003 were expressed in anomalous ice and snow season patterns. We are developing a consistent, MODIS-based dataset that will be used to monitor temporal trends of each of these seasonal metrics and to map areas of change for the study area. INTRODUCTION Ecosystem responses to changing climate are expected to occur over different temporal scales, with the timing of seasonal events (e.g., freeze-thaw cycles, snowpack formation and snowmelt, and the onset or end of the growing season) showing a great deal of variability. Long-term changes in snowpack, lake ice, and vegetation may be particularly pronounced in high northern latitudes where small changes in climate can alter the timing of these events. Remotely sensed data can potentially capture much of this variation in seasonality, and provided that the Pecora 17 – The Future of Land Imaging…Going Operational November 18 – 20, 2008 Denver, Colorado data record is sufficiently long, enable us to distinguish between interannual variability and multi-year trends (e.g., in snowpack duration or growing season length). We describe the use of Moderate Resolution Imaging Spectroradiometer (MODIS) data from Aqua and Terra satellites to monitor lake ice seasonal dynamics in southwest Alaska. This paper focuses on the lake ice metrics, including the timing and duration of ice formation and break-up on large lakes as manually interpreted from Rapidfire MODIS images. The moderate spatial resolution (250–1000 m) and high temporal resolution provided by MODIS enables frequent observations of a region characterized by a rapidly changing landscape, complex climatic regime, frequent cloud cover, and little infrastructure to support ground-based measurements. The National Park Service (NPS) is also monitoring the landscape dynamics of snow and growing seasons for the study area using standard MODIS snow and NDVI products. Summary metrics for snow cover and vegetation phenology (start and end of season) were also derived using standard MODIS products for snow and NDVI (Reed et al, in press). We examined variation in each metric across years (2001-2007) and the relationships among metrics. Background Increasing temperatures projected for the northern high latitudes over the next century are expected to influence a number of seasonal events including lake ice formation and break-up, snowpack formation, and onset of growing season. Milder winters have resulted in later freeze-up dates, earlier break-up dates, or both for lakes in the northern United States and Canada (Magnuson et al., 2000) and are expected to affect the frequency and severity of ice dams, floods, and low flows in the Arctic. In southwest Alaska, the seasonality of snowpack, lake ice, and vegetation dynamics are expected to have wide- reaching effects. The climate is influenced by complex interactions of several forcing agents, all functioning at different temporal scales: the El Niño and La Niña Southern Oscillation (one-two years), the Pacific Decadal Oscillation (20-30 years) and the Pacific/North American circulation pattern (days to weeks), as well as local forcings resulting from topography (Papineau 2001). These climatic factors influence the timing of freeze-thaw events, lake ice thickness, and surface and groundwater hydrology in the region. Such climate-driven effects on habitat and forage may affect wildlife populations, including caribou, moose, wolves, and a number of other predator and prey species. The presence or absence of lake ice and snow also affects winter access to subsistence activities by rural residents who depend on these resources (e.g., ice fishing, hunting, trapping, firewood collection) (Gaul 2007). Accurate measurements of regional-scale lake ice dynamics, vegetation, and snowpack are needed to improve our understanding of the long-term effects of climate on southwest Alaska ecosystems. The National Park Service’s Inventory and Monitoring (I&M) Program has begun to monitor these variables as a means of characterizing short- and long-term variation in seasonality. Moderate resolution remote sensing data provide a means for monitoring trends in snowpack, lake ice, and vegetation dynamics in this otherwise remote and inaccessible region. The high temporal resolution of MODIS data makes them especially well-suited to capture variation in the timing of seasonal events across years. Lake Ice Formation and Break-up Process Water density is greatest at 4oC. In the generalized ice formation process, early season autumn snowfall lowers water temperature as snow melts into open water. Surface water cools to 4oC from lowering air temperature and snow. The denser water sinks and the lighter surface water cools until the entire lake mass reaches 4oC. Without further mixing from wind, a lighter layer of water forms on the surface and further cools to 0oC, when a thin layer of skim ice forms (Jeffries et al., 2005). Often, the entire surface of a lake will freeze over within a few hours on a still cold night. The ice layer thickens as additional water freezes to the bottom. Maximum ice thickness varies each winter depending on air temperatures, snow cover and duration of cold weather. Many winters in southwestern Alaska experience mid-winter thaw events as the jet stream moves to the eastern Gulf of Alaska, allowing a strong stream of warm moist air (Chinook storms) to flow north and hit the southern coast of Alaska. This sudden influx of warm air, rain and wind removes the insulating snow cover and the ice surface is flooded with several inches of water. The return of the Arctic high pressure system and cold temperatures refreeze the lake surfaces. This ice cover generally lasts until breakup. Spring breakup of lake ice begins as the days become longer and warmer. Ice decays when the ice becomes isothermal at 0oC and the top and bottom of the ice layer melt simultaneously. Sometimes melting occurs inside the ice layer along the vertical ice crystals, forming columnular or needle ice which rapidly fractures apart, speeding breakup. Thermal absorption from open water, light winds and gentle waves accelerate the melting process. As with freeze-up, breakup can be very rapid, with even large lakes becoming ice free within a few days. Once ice free, lake water gradually warms throughout the summer, reaching 15oC at the surface during warm years. However, Pecora 17 – The Future of Land Imaging…Going Operational November 18 – 20, 2008 Denver, Colorado water at 50m deep in Lake Clark barely warms to 5oC (NPS unpub data) before the advent of fall storms and the cycle of cooling and ice formation continues. METHODS Study Area The study area (Fig. 1) comprises nearly 20 million ha of land between about 56–62° N latitude and 148–160° W longitude in southwest Alaska. It includes the Southwest Alaska Network (SWAN), one of 32 networks in the U.S. National Park Service’s (NPS) Inventory and Monitoring Program (Fancy et al., 2008), which consists of five National Park Service units (Alagnak Wild River, Aniakchak National Monument & Preserve, Katmai National Park & Preserve, Kenai Fjords National Park, Lake Clark National Park & Preserve). This study was initiated as part of the NPS Vital Signs monitoring effort. Southwestern Alaska is characterized by diverse terrain, ranging from gently rolling coastal lowlands to steep, dissected mountain ranges and glaciated valleys. Elevation ranges from 0 to 3100 m. Mean annual precipitation ranges from 400–600 mm in the western interior to 3000–4000 mm at higher elevations and along the eastern coastline of the Cook Inlet Basin (Davey et al., 2007). Mean annual temperature ranges from –8 °C in the western interior to 4 °C in the coastal lowlands, with the growing season generally limited to May–October at lower elevations. Winter temperatures at lower elevations in the region fluctuate around 0 °C.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership Strategic Plan (2017)
    Southwest Alaska Salmon Habitat Partnership Strategic Conservation Action Plan for Southwest Alaska Watersheds 2017 Update Preface In studying the history of the decline of the salmon runs of the Pacific Coast, it is striking to notice how invariably these declines are blamed on over-fishing. These statements come most often from those least acquainted with the subject and are frequently made to cover up other causes, which may be of their own making. While it is true that over-fishing is responsible for many declines, there is evidence to show that in numerous cases it is of minor or no consequence. The actual reasons are often found to be changes in the environment of the salmon due to natural and unnatural (man-made) conditions. This is especially true of the fresh water stages of its existence. Many examples could be cited. Some of the natural ones are cyclic climatic changes, floods, droughts, freezes, earthquakes, earth slides, beaver dams and increase in predators. On the other hand there are such man-made, or unnatural, causes as deforestation due to logging; hydro-electric, irrigation, flood control, and navigation projects; pollution, especially from pulp mills; soil conservation and reclamation schemes; gravel washing and mining operations; road construction such as stream culverts; insect control using poisonous sprays; and many others. The listing of these does not necessarily mean that all are inimical to the continuation of our salmon fisheries. It does mean, however, that if such projects are improperly and unwisely planned, the results will be disastrous to our fisheries. Alaska needs new industries, but not at the expense of her most important resource, which if properly cared for, will produce year after year.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Alaska
    Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Alaska Alaska Regional Response Team, Wildlife Protection Committee Revision 5 – August 2012 2018 Administrative Update Revision 5 – August 2012 Administrative Update: March 2018 1 Table of Contents I. Introduction ........................................................................................................................... G-5 A. Background G-5 B. Objectives ........................................................................................................................... G-5 C. Scope of Wildlife Protection Guidelines for Alaska ............................................................... G-6 1. Geographic Area ............................................................................................................. G-6 2. Wildlife Resources .......................................................................................................... G-8 3. Wildlife Resource Agencies ............................................................................................. G-8 D. Committee Organization and Development of Guidelines ................................................... G-8 1. Committee Organization ................................................................................................. G-8 2. Development of Guidelines ............................................................................................ G-9 E. Relationship to National Planning Requirements and Guidance .......................................... G-9 F. Procedures for Revisions and
    [Show full text]
  • Alaska Park Science 19(1): Arctic Alaska Are Living at the Species’ Northern-Most to Identify Habitats Most Frequented by Bears and 4-9
    National Park Service US Department of the Interior Alaska Park Science Region 11, Alaska Below the Surface Fish and Our Changing Underwater World Volume 19, Issue 1 Noatak National Preserve Cape Krusenstern Gates of the Arctic Alaska Park Science National Monument National Park and Preserve Kobuk Valley Volume 19, Issue 1 National Park June 2020 Bering Land Bridge Yukon-Charley Rivers National Preserve National Preserve Denali National Wrangell-St Elias National Editorial Board: Park and Preserve Park and Preserve Leigh Welling Debora Cooper Grant Hilderbrand Klondike Gold Rush Jim Lawler Lake Clark National National Historical Park Jennifer Pederson Weinberger Park and Preserve Guest Editor: Carol Ann Woody Kenai Fjords Managing Editor: Nina Chambers Katmai National Glacier Bay National National Park Design: Nina Chambers Park and Preserve Park and Preserve Sitka National A special thanks to Sarah Apsens for her diligent Historical Park efforts in assembling articles for this issue. Her Aniakchak National efforts helped make this issue possible. Monument and Preserve Alaska Park Science is the semi-annual science journal of the National Park Service Alaska Region. Each issue highlights research and scholarship important to the stewardship of Alaska’s parks. Publication in Alaska Park Science does not signify that the contents reflect the views or policies of the National Park Service, nor does mention of trade names or commercial products constitute National Park Service endorsement or recommendation. Alaska Park Science is found online at https://www.nps.gov/subjects/alaskaparkscience/index.htm Table of Contents Below the Surface: Fish and Our Changing Environmental DNA: An Emerging Tool for Permafrost Carbon in Stream Food Webs of Underwater World Understanding Aquatic Biodiversity Arctic Alaska C.
    [Show full text]
  • Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter; Final Rule
    Thursday, October 8, 2009 Part III Department of the Interior Fish and Wildlife Service 50 CFR Part 17 Endangered and Threatened Wildlife and Plants; Designation of Critical Habitat for the Southwest Alaska Distinct Population Segment of the Northern Sea Otter; Final Rule VerDate Nov<24>2008 19:03 Oct 07, 2009 Jkt 220001 PO 00000 Frm 00001 Fmt 4717 Sfmt 4717 E:\FR\FM\08OCR3.SGM 08OCR3 srobinson on DSKHWCL6B1PROD with RULES3 51988 Federal Register / Vol. 74, No. 194 / Thursday, October 8, 2009 / Rules and Regulations DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR northern sea otter, refer to the final published in the Federal Register on listing rule published in the Federal August 9, 2005 (70 FR 46366). Fish and Wildlife Service Register on August 9, 2005 (70 FR Summary of Comments and 46366), the proposed rule to designate Recommendations 50 CFR Part 17 critical habitat published in the Federal Register on December 16, 2008 (73 FR We requested written comments from [FWS–R7–ES–2008–0105; 92210–1117– the public during the public comment 0000–FY08–B4] 76454), and the June 9, 2009 (74 FR 27271), notice of availability of the draft period on the proposed rule to designate RIN 1018–AV92 economic analysis (DEA). More detailed critical habitat for the southwest Alaska information on northern sea otter DPS of the northern sea otter. During the Endangered and Threatened Wildlife biology and ecology that is directly public comment period, we also and Plants; Designation of Critical relevant to designation of critical habitat contacted appropriate Federal, State, Habitat for the Southwest Alaska is discussed under the Primary and local agencies; Alaska Native Distinct Population Segment of the Constituent Elements section below.
    [Show full text]
  • Vegetation Ecotone Dynamics in Southwest Alaska During the Late Quaternary Linda B
    Quaternary Science Reviews 20 (2001) 175}188 Vegetation ecotone dynamics in Southwest Alaska during the Late Quaternary Linda B. Brubaker! *, Patricia M. Anderson", Feng Sheng Hu# !College of Forest Resources, University of Washington Box 352100, Seattle WA 98195, USA "Quaternary Research Center, University of Washington Box 351360, Seattle WA 98195, USA #Department of Plant Biology, University of Illinois, Urbana IL 61801, USA Abstract To examine Late Quaternary vegetation change across the modern vegetation gradient from continuous boreal forest (central Alaska) to Betula shrub tundra (Bristol Bay region), pollen records from Idavain and Snipe Lakes are described and compared to those of four other sites in southwest Alaska. Major features of the vegetation history at Idavain Lake include herb-dominated tundra (ca. 14}12 ka BP), mixed herb/Betula shrub tundra (ca. 12}8 ka BP), and Alnus/Betula shrub tundra (8 ka BP to present). The Snipe Lake record reveals a brief period of herb tundra ('12 ka BP), Betula shrub tundra (ca. 12}8.5 ka BP), and Picea forest mixed with Alnus/Betula shrub tundra (ca. 8 ka BP to present). Comparisons with other pollen records indicate that southwest Alaska has been the location of major vegetation ecotones throughout the last 12 ka years. Northern areas have consistently been dominated by larger growth forms (shrubs or trees) than have southern areas. During the Betula period (12}8 ka BP), a dense Betula shrubland occupied central Alaska, changing to a mixed low-Betula shrub and herb tundra in the south. In the Alnus/Picea period (8 ka BP to present), Picea and Betula trees were more common to the north; Alnus and Betula shrubs more abundant to the south.
    [Show full text]
  • Regulatory Impacts on a Yup'ik Fish Camp in Southwest Alaska
    Regulatory Impacts on a Yup’ik Fish Camp in Southwest Alaska by Jory Stariwat B.A., University of Alaska, Anchorage, 2008 A THESIS SUBMITTED IN PARTIAL FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENTS FOR THE DEGREE OF MASTER OF ARTS in THE FACULTY OF GRADUATE AND POSTDOCTORAL STUDIES (Anthropology) THE UNIVERSITY OF BRITISH COLUMBIA (Vancouver) AUGUST 2016 © Jory Stariwat, 2016 Abstract Yup’ik fishers on the Nushagak River of Southwest Alaska harvest salmon for both subsistence and commercial purposes, however their cultural protocol and formal resource management principles are unrecognized by the State of Alaska. Drawing from two summers of ethnographic research and experience as an Alaska Department of Fish & Game (ADF&G) anthropologist, I examine one state regulation preventing drift gillnetting for subsistence purposes. The analysis reveals that the Alaska Department of Fish & Game is currently preventing cultural adaptation on the Nushagak River despite Yup’ik communities maintaining sustainable harvest levels for millennia. Changes in river conditions, namely the location of sandbars and channels, in addition to warming water temperatures, necessitate the application of the traditional harvest method, drift gillnetting, to meet the harvest goals of Yup’ik fishers at the Lewis Point fish camp on the Nushagak River. The Alaska Board of Fisheries has maintained that drifting only be employed in the commercial fishery, not the subsistence fishery, despite policy dictating a subsistence priority over other consumptive uses. While failing to meet the subsistence priority codified in its own policy, the State of Alaska also fails to provide a meaningful role to the tribes in the decision-making domain of resource management.
    [Show full text]
  • Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation Tara Sweeney 6000 Kanakanak Road P.O
    Via email: [email protected] July 25, 2018 Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation Tara Sweeney 6000 Kanakanak Road P.O. Box 130 Assistant Secretary - Indian Affairs Dillingham, AK 99576 (907) 842-5201 Department ofthe Interior (800) 478-5201 1849 C Street NW, MS-4141 FAX (907) 842-9354 www.bbahc.org Washington DC 20240 Attn: Mr. Tyler Fish, Counselor Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation is a tribal organization Re: Comments for Consultation on Organization under Alaska representing 28 villages in Southwest Alaska: Amendment to IRA Aleknagik - Dear Assistant Secretary Sweeney: Chignik- Bay Chignik- Lagoon I am writing on behalf of the Bristol Bay Area Health Corporation Chignik- Lake (BBAHC) to submit comments in response to the Department ofthe Interior's (Department) July 2, 2018 Dear Tribal Leader Letter concerning how the Clark's Point - Department might better implement the organization and federal recognition Dillingham- provision ofthe Alaska amendment to the Indian Reorganization Act (IRA). Egegik- Attached is a legal memorandum answering your questions in detail and Ekuk- discussing the parameters ofthe common bond standard. Ekwok - BBAHC was created in 1973 to provide health care services to Alaska Goodnews- Bay Natives of Southwest Alaska. BBAHC began operating and managing the lvanof- Bay Kanakanak Hospital and the Bristol Bay.Service Unit for the Indian Health Kanatak- Service in 1980, and it was the first tribal organization to do so under the Indian Self-Determination and Education Assistance Act. BBAHC is responsible for King Salmon providing health care to the people of28 Alaska Native Villages. Knugank- Koliganek BBAHC has provided support and assistance to our member village, the Levelock- Knugank Tribe, located near Dillingham, Alaska, in its request to the Department to organize under the standard set forth in the Alaska amendment to the IRA and Manokotak - thereby receive federal recognition.
    [Show full text]
  • Wildlife Viewing Seasonal Calendar
    Wildlife Viewing Seasonal Calendar January wagtail, and red-throated Sitka black-tailed pipit. deer on Kodiak Island are often forced into rivers. Sea otters occur in bays An impressive northward May coastal beach fringe forest by on Kodiak Island, along the migration of gray whales heavy winter snows at higher south side of the Kenai and occurs through Unimak Pass. Moose calves are born in tall- elevations. Alaska Peninsulas, and along shrub thickets and muskegs. the north side of Unimak Brown bears emerge from Sitka black-tailed deer fawns The entire world population Island to Izembek Lagoon, hibernation during April and are born on Kodiak Island. of emperor geese winters and near Adak. They can be May. They feed on grasses along the Aleutian Islands. seen year-round. and sedges in moist tundra Steller sea lions begin pupping and coastal wetlands during at established rookery sites on Watch for northern hawk Snow buntings return in large this season. rocky coasts. owls sitting in the tops of flocks. Look for them in open spruce trees and along power habitats, tundra fields, around Arctic ground squirrels Spring migration continues. lines in forested areas. towns, and coastal areas. emerge from hibernation. Migrant shorebirds and Large numbers of king eiders They may be seen in tundra waterfowl are abundant. In forested areas, black- appear along the coast in areas of the mainland. Seabirds arrive at their nesting capped and boreal chickadees, preparation for spring colonies. Large rafts of Spring bird migration common redpolls, gray jays, migration to Arctic Canada. puffins, murres, and auklets downy woodpeckers and intensifies as brant, snow, can be observed around black-billed magpies can be Common ravens begin emperor, and greater white- offshore islands.
    [Show full text]
  • Regional Climate Projections: Southwest Alaska and Aleutian Islands
    Alaska Climate Change Adaptation Series ACC-00115 Regional Climate Projections: Southwest Alaska and Aleutian Islands This region encompasses the Aleutian Islands, with a maritime climate, and the southwest coast, a region of maritime influence. Though mean annual temperatures are similar to inland sites at the same latitudes, the seasonal range of temperatures is much lower and the winds are much higher, yielding ecosystems dominated by grasslands and shrubs rather than forests. As temperatures increase, loss of permafrost and shorter seasons for land-fast ice will exacerbate the erosion caused by coastal storms. Both terrestrial and marine ecosystem shifts are likely. Who We Are ACCAP — The aim of the Alaska planations of the uncertainty inherent Center for Climate Assessment and in all forms of forecasting. SNAP — The Scenarios Network for Policy is to assess the socioeconomic Alaska & Arctic Planning links universi- and biophysical impacts of climate Uncertainty ty researchers with communities and variability in Alaska, make this infor- While values are based on the best resource managers. Through partner- mation available to decision makers, ships involving data sharing, research, available climate models, they are es- and improve the ability of Alaskans to timates only. There is variation among modeling and interpretation of model adapt to a changing climate. results, SNAP addresses some of the climate models and annual variation within each model. Interpretation of complex challenges of adapting to Together, SNAP, ACCAP and CES impacts adds additional uncertainty. future conditions. provide a variety of services that may assist you in meeting your community Climate Models CES — The Cooperative Extension planning needs.
    [Show full text]
  • NOUS41 KWBC 301951 Service Change Notice 13-36 National
    NOUS41 KWBC 301951 Service Change Notice 13-36 National Weather Service Headquarters Washington DC 351 PM EDT Thu May 30 2013 To: Subscribers: -Family of Services -NOAA Weather Wire Service -Emergency Managers Weather Information Network -NOAAPORT Other NWS partners and NWS employees From: Mark Tew Chief, Marine and Coastal Weather Services Branch Subject: Changes to Coastal Marine Zones in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea Effective October 1, 2013 Effective Tuesday, October 1, 2013, at 10 AM Alaska Daylight Time (AKDT), 2 PM Eastern Daylight Time (EDT), 1800 Coordinated Universal Time (UTC), the NWS Weather Forecast Office (WFO) in Anchorage, AK (AFC) will reconfigure its marine zones for the coastal waters in the Gulf of Alaska and Bering Sea. The changes include renaming, renumbering and realigning several zones as well as adding eight new forecast zones. Several zone changes will be in name only while the zone number remains the same. The purpose of this change is to improve marine weather services for NWS users and partners. Table 1 lists all the products issued by WFO Anchorage that will be affected by the marine zone changes. Table 2 lists all the current marine zones and Universal Geographic Codes (UGCs) for WFO Anchorage. Table 3 lists all the marine zones and UGCs for which WFO Anchorage will issue forecasts and warnings effective October 1, 2013. Table 1: WFO Anchorage products affected by the marine zone changes effective October 1 2013. Product Name WMO Heading AWIPS ID ------------ ----------- -------- Coastal Waters Forecast
    [Show full text]
  • Restoring Old Cabins on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Molly Slocum
    Refuge Notebook • Vol. 5, No. 21 • May 30, 2003 Restoring old cabins on the Kenai National Wildlife Refuge by Molly Slocum Midnight, June 21st you are sitting on the shore of place to enjoy the warm, sunny spring days than out- Lake Tustumena near Andrew Berg’s cabin. The colors doors next to a lake beneath the great blue sky. of twilight surround you, painting the lake and moun- I recently spent a weekend on Tustumena Lake as- tains with pink, blue, and lavender hues. The only sessing the condition of various cabins. We will be sounds reaching your ears are the water lapping at the restoring another of Andrew Berg’s cabins, which was sand and the wind rustling through the treetops. The built in 1902. Andrew Berg was a big game guide, and year could be 1895; you are on a hunting or fishing fish and game officer. After restoration, the cabinwill trip, and you are now relaxing after a day of hiking be exactly the same as it was before; no changes will in the high country. Or it could be 2003, and you are be made to the original design. enjoying a peaceful summer solstice retreat. It is a shame to visit these historical places and find The Kenai National Wildlife Refuge offers unique them defaced with graffiti carved into the old logs and backcountry experiences with many historic cabins. trash littering the inside and the ground around the Over the years cabins were built around the Kenai outside of the structures. This shows a lack of respect Peninsula to support activities such as hunting, fish- for people who lived here before us, who worked hard ing, trapping, and mining, as well as for year-round for their food and living.
    [Show full text]
  • BAER Final Report
    BAER Final Report Invasive Plant Monitoring Following 2004 Fires USFWS National Wildlife Refuges – Alaska Region Collection site. Kanuti National Wildlife Refuge. Helen Cortés-Burns and Matt Carlson Alaska Natural Heritage Program Environment and Natural Resources Institute University of Alaska Anchorage 707 A Street Anchorage, Alaska 99501 Report funded by and prepared for: USFWS, Alaska Regional Office February 2006 - 1 - ABSTRACT ................................................................................................................................................................- 4 - ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................................................- 5 - INTRODUCTION ........................................................................................................................................................- 6 - TREATMENT SPECIFICATION ..................................................................................................................................- 6 - LOGISTICS, SAMPLING PROTOCOLS, AND DATA ANALYSIS .....................................................................................- 7 - Pre-fieldwork: logistics........................................................................................................................................- 7 - Fieldwork: methodology......................................................................................................................................-
    [Show full text]